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MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Yokwe, Jan. 29) – Marshall Islands President Kessai Note attended the inauguration of Palau's President, Tommy Remengesau, last week.

This was the last stop in a three and a half week itinerary which included the United Nations-sponsored Mauritius Conference and the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Japan.

President Note attended a banquet on Thursday in honor of Remengesau given by Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian, who was on the last leg of his two-nation Pacific tour.

Note also met with President Chen on Friday evening following the inaugural festivities.

On Saturday, the Central News Agency announced Chen was slated for an official visit to the Marshall Islands in May.

A visit to the Marshall Islands was previously considered for President Chen's trip. Early this year, Taiwan officials had announced that Chen was scheduled to visit Palau and could also visit Marshalls during the January trip. The RMI...

By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.

KOROR (Palau Horizon, Feb. 1) — Experts say corals get colds too and other infectious diseases.

Recent findings of a team of international scientists on coral diseases, which has just completed its research in Palau, showed a new outbreak of a white syndrome disease on corals in Nikko Bay.

The Coral Disease Working Group of the Global Environmental Fund Coral Reef Targeted Research Program made a detailed study on designated reefs here from Jan. 18-28, 2005 in order to address major issues pertaining to such diseases.

The working group surveyed coral disease inside and outside a series of Marine Protected Areas around Palau.

Further studies will be done to identify the potential causative microorganisms and record if the outbreak spreads.

One major concern of the group to be addressed includes the reduction of impacts of coral disease inside marine protected areas.

And such question as "will bouts of coral...

By Ryota Dei

HAGATNA, Guam (Pacific Daily News, Feb. 1) – Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian stopped over on Guam for several hours yesterday and attended a reception at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa on his way back from official visits to Palau and the Solomon Islands.

Upon arriving on the island, Chen attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Asan Beach Unit and delivered a speech at a welcoming reception held at the hotel ballroom, where he received a warm welcome from Gov. Felix Camacho and Taiwanese expatriates on Guam.

"By sharing common experiences with the two islands, of a proud people of the Western Pacific-Asian region, we will improve the lives of all our people and continue our friendship that has only grown stronger over the last 30 years. And just as we can learn from the people of Taiwan, there is much we can share with them," Camacho said in his speech.

He also expressed a warm invitation to...

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Jan. 31) – The Solomon Islands High Court was told today that cabinet minister, Fr Augustine Geve, was executed on a remote beach after first asking his captor, militant leader Harold Keke, where he should stand to be shot.

The Crown Prosecutor, Ron Barry, says Keke and his deputy, Ronnie Cawa, then killed Father Geve with high-powered rifles, believing the minister had betrayed his constituents and stolen money meant for them.

Another militant, Francis Lela, has also been charged with murdering Fr Geve.

All three pleaded not guilty.

In his opening address, Mr Barry said Keke had earlier forced Fr Geve to write a letter of resignation to Prime Minister Allan Kemakeza.

Mr Barry told the court the catalyst for the execution was Keke’s discovery of a letter from Fr Geve to the Prime Minister saying he was being held against his will and asking for money to be put into his Honiara bank account...